Dust, wind, and storm shield for vehicles.



J. J. FITZPATRICK. nusr, WIND, AND STORM SHIELD FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I916.

Patented Jan. 30,

JS .1. FITZPATBICK, 018 NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

STORM SHIELD FOR VEHICLES.

Patenteddan. 361), i811 t.

Application filed Mag 28, 1916. serial No. 99,315.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that 1, JAMES J. FITZPAT- RICK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust, Wind, and Storm Shields for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying. drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in dust, wind and storm shields for vehicles, particularly motor driven commercial vehicles provided with aprons suspended from the top or sides of the vehicle to protect the driver from the elements.

The object of the present invention is to provide a wind, dust and storm shield suitable for use in connection with the ordinary textile apron commonly used on motor vehicles which shall be cheap, is as strong and durable as the apron itself, is of comparatively light weight and is so constructed that the parts comprising the same may easily be disconnected when desired and again assembled by any person with ordinary hand tools.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shield of this character, the parts of which are ordinary commercial articles procurable in the open market and which require no special tools or machinery to make or prepare to be assembled in the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shield of this character in which there shall be no opening between the lower part of the shield and the apron no matter what the angle of adjustment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shield of this character which is capable of adjustment at various angles and which is provided with a simple positive fastening easily operated and which will at all times maintain the shield rigid in the position in which it may be adjusted regardless of the vibrations to which the vehicle may be subjected.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shield of this character which shall present no obstruction to the drivers vision regardless of the elevation of his eyes.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description thereof hereinafter made when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein a preferable form of the invention is shown and wherein like numerals of reference refer to similar parts in the several views. While a preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that various changes and alterations can be made in the arrangement, positioning and construction of the several parts without departing from the invention. Generall the present invention consists of a suitab e frame carrying the upper portion of the apron and capable of turnin on its lower member to adjust the plane 0 the upper portion of the apron at various angles to the plane of the body of the apron, said lower member being provided with means of fastening to retain the frame at any angle of adjustment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shield in position on a vehicle the adjacent portions of the vehicle being indicated by dotted lines and the shield being inclined forward; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the shield, certain portions being broken away the better to show .the construction; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing one position to which the shield may be adjusted other positions being indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 4 is anenlarged sectional view of the lower member of the supporting frame and the adjacent parts showing in detail one of the joints of the frame and the fastening'device.

In the form shown in the accompanying drawings the apron 1 is provided at a suitable' distance from the top with a transverse pocket 2 adapted to receive a tube or pipe 3; split collars 4 pass around tube or pipe 3, the split portions extending through the rear wall of the pocket 2 and being provided with screws 5 to securely clamp the collars 4 on the tube or pipe 3 and also with transverse slots 6 adapted to receive straps 7 or other suitable devices for suspending the apron 1 to the frame of the vehicle; one of the split collars 4 is also provided outside of the wall of the pocket 2 with a pivoted arm 8 carrying at its free end a set screw 9 for a purpose to be hereafter described and mounted so as to turn freely in the arm 8; the upper portion 10 of the apron 1 above the pocket 2 is provided with pockets 11 at the sides and top adapted to receive the side and upper members 12 of the shield supporting frame, and may have inserted at suitable positions transparent bodies 12* such as glass or celluloid; frame members 12 of suitable material preferably metal rods pass through the tube or pipe 3 and the pockets 11; the

lower of the members 12 is provided at one or both ends, here shown at one end, with a sleeve or collar 13 securely .attached to said member 12 by any suitable means preferably by a. cotter pin 14 passing through said sleeve or collar 13 and the member 12, said sleeve or collar 13 having an enlarged inner end adapted to receive the end of the tube or pipe 3 and provided with a plurality of perforations registering with similar threaded perforations 15 in the tube or pipe 3 adapted to receive the set screw 9; the ends of the several members 12 are rigidly connected by any suitable means preferably threaded couplings 16 of the ordinary type.

The operation of the improved dust, wind and storm shieldmay be described as follows :-The apron 1 having been provided with a transverse pocket 2 at a suitable distance from the top and the portion above the pocket provided with pockets 11 at .the sides and top, atube or pipe 3 provided with threaded perforations 15 near one end is inserted in the transverse pocket 2 with its perforated end projecting. The split collars 4 are placed around the tube or pipe 3 and securely clamped on it. The lower frame member 12 is then inserted through the tube or pipe 3 and the sleeve or collar 13 slipped over one end outside of the end of the tube or pipe 3 and secured to the member 12 by the cotter pin 14 the inner end of the sleeve or collar 13 projecting over the end of the tube or pipe 3 and the perforations in the sleeve or collar 13 registering with the threaded perforations 15 in the tube or pipe 3. The side .and top members 12 of the frame are placed in the pockets 11 and the ends of the members 12 securely and rigidly joined togetherby screwing them into the threaded couplings 16. The shield is now ready for use.

In practice the apron 1 being suspended in the usual way by the split portions of the collars 4 the upper portion 10 of the apron 1 now constituting the shield can be turned on the lower frame member 12 to the desired angle with the lower portion of the apron 1 and the arm 8 lowered permitting the set screw 9 to pass through one-of the perforations in the sleeve or collar 13 and be screwed into one of the threaded perforations 15 in the end of the tube or pipe 3, thus securely holding the shield in the desired position.

What I claim is i 1. In combination with a flexible apron suspended in the forepart of a vehicle to protect the driver, a shield formed of the upper portion of such apron and comprising means for holding the upper portion of such apron extended, such means consisting of a transverse pocket in said apron and a frame carrying said shield the lower member of which revolves in said pocket, and adapted to be turned in a plane transversely to such apron and means for retaining such shield in different angular positions with reference to such apron. t

2. In combination with a flexible apron suspended in the forepart of a vehicle to protect the driver, a shield consisting of the upper portion of such apron, pockets at the sides and top edge of such upper portion, a transverse pocket in such apron at the lower edge of such upper portion, a tube within such transverse pocket provided with means for suspending such apron extending rearwardly of such upper portion, rods within such tube and the side and top pockets, means for securely joining the ends of such rods and means for adjustably connecting the tube and inclosed rod adapted to hold the shield in different positions. 3. In combination with a flexible apron suspended in the forepart of a vehicle to protect the driver, a shield consisting of the upper portion of such apron, eyes in such upper portion, pockets at the sides and top edge of such upper portion, a transverse pocket in such apron at the lower edge of such upper portion, a tube within. such transverse pocket, means having rearwardly projecting portions adapted to secure thetube in the pocket and adapted to receive the suspending devices, a rod within said tube provided with a sleeve or sleeves extending screw threaded perforations in the tube, a

set screw passing through the perforations in the sleeve or sleeves and adapted to engage the screw threaded perforations in the tube and retain the rod in different relative positions with regard to the tube, and rods within the side and top pockets and means for securely joining the ends of the rods.

4. In a combination with a flexible apron suspended in the forepart of a vehicle to protect the driver, of a shield consisting of the upper portion of the apron, a frame adapted to hold such upper portion in an extended position and means adapted to permit the turning of said frame on its lower member, a tube inclosing said lower member, a fastening device consisting of a sleeve on such lower member provided with an enlarged inner portion adapted to upper portion thereof, pockets at the sides connect the tube and inclosed rod to prevent 211511 top of thle ugper portion thereof, mad the turning of the rod.

r0 s Within t e si e and top poc zets, a tu e Within the transverse pocket secured against JAlWES FITZPATRICK' turning and a rod Within thetube securely Witnesses:

connected with the rods in the side and top HARTWELL P. HEATH,

pockets and provided with means adapted to ARTHUR C. SMITH. 

